Normal Force(ing You to Buy This!)
Arapahoe High School sophomore creates clothing line inspired by global cultures.
Grant Brumage-Heller, 10, displaying his design process for Normal Force’s next clothing drop.
There is a strict division ingrained in an average high schooler’s mind that entrepreneurial pursuits are separate from the time spent before graduation. Some teenagers, like Grant Brumage-Heller, 10, realize that small businesses are not just for suited men with phone holsters and briefcases. Brumage-Heller opened up his online clothing store, Normal Force, Thursday, February 8 at 11:59 PM (EST). The store currently sells three uniquely different Japan-inspired shirts.
normal force: not just in physics
![](https://arapahoextra.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/logonf-458x475.jpg)
Normal Force’s logo, designed by Grant Brumage-Heller, 10.
In deciding the name for his new clothing line, Brumage-Heller knew he wanted something unique to match the brand he is marketing. “I wanted I wanted it to be Gravity, but I thought that sounded really cliche. And then I was in physics class and I was like ‘yeah that [Normal Force] sounds pretty tight’” said Brumage-Heller.
Shoppers are greeted on Normal Force’s website by the logo, a two-toned bear adorned with “nF.” The bear was initially meant to be the subject of the brand’s shirts. “My original goal was I was gonna make t-shirts with just these bears on them. I’d have different colors of them and then say ‘collect your bears.’ And then I realized no one was gonna buy bear collectables” said Brumage-Heller. He decided to use one of the dozens of bears he had recolored as the background for his logo.
the process
![](https://arapahoextra.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/normalforce-420x475.jpg)
Just like the creation of the logo, the clothing line came together spontaneously and naturally. “It’s kinda just all off the cuff” said Brumage-Heller. The process in building his business has been relatively quick. “I started designing stuff a couple months ago for fun… and I thought it looked cool. Then, a couple of my friends told me to put it on t-shirts” said Brumage-Heller.
He didn’t originally plan on selling his clothes based around Japanese culture. “I had some pictures in my camera roll, and I just started messing with them in photoshop and illustrator. I kinda just realized that everything I made was around a theme. So that worked out good I guess” said Brumage-Heller. He’s currently working on designs inspired by India for his next release date, and hopes to highlight multiple cultures with future lines.
manufacturing & distribution
Finding a place to manufacture and print his designs was a difficult. Brumage-Heller quickly discovered that local printing services in Colorado were too expensive for his budget. He found that sourcing globally is much more affordable. Brumage-Heller used alibaba.com to connect with manufacturers around the world to make his product. He ultimately decided to outsource to a company in India.
The morning after he dropped his first clothing line, Brumage-Heller was already celebrating sales of his shirts. “I got only orders from Germany. I got six from Germany and one from Austria” said Brumage-Heller. He did not know why he had a relatively large customer base from Eastern Europe, but he was certainly happy for the business. Brumage-Heller is also expecting a very local order in the near future. “My dad wants to get a shirt, so I guess that’s cool” said Brumage-Heller.
store information
Normal Force opened its online store Thursday, February 8 at 11:59 PM (EST). The store closes Friday, February 16. Check the website out for the look book and purchasing unique clothing. Order the Japanese-inspired t-shirts for $25 and long sleeves for $40. Brumage-Heller plans to drop his India-inspired line in April.
Normal Force’s website: normalforce.org
Follow Normal Force on Instagram: @normal.force
![Photo of Vivianna DeNittis](https://arapahoextra.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/staff-475x317.jpg)
Vivianna is a senior and second year staffer on the Herald Newsmagazine. She has interests all over the place, including: theater, journalism, design,...